Vestas closed the UK's only wind turbine blade factories, on the Isle of Wight, in August 2009. Workers occupied the factory, then picketed. This blog is a history of that dispute and of the ongoing campaign for green jobs.

Support sacked Vestas workers – sponsor Luke in the Blackpool marathon this weekend

Luke explains:

Support the sacked Vestas Workers (and help Luke run a long way!)

On Sunday 11th April, I will be running the Blackpool Marathon to raise funds for the ex-Vestas workers who occupied their Wind Turbine Blade factory on the Isle of Wight in the summer of 2009. The workers took a bold stand to demand that not only does the UK invest in green energy, but that it also supports the people working in the industry which they believed to be a job for life. The factory which shut down made over £5 Million of profit, showing that the factory was not closed for reasons of loss, but chasing after bigger subsidies which could be gained from moving manufacturing to the US.

The workers who remained in occupation until the end, to save their green jobs, have been denied their redundancy pay. Some of the workers have managed to find jobs, a number have chosen to retrain, which means forfeiting any kind of monetary assistance from the government. For the workers who are retraining, and those who have been unable to find work (the recession has hit the main land hard enough, imagine how this is on a small island), I believe it to be a political necessity to show solidarity not just during their brave actions, but until they are in a position to continue with their lives. The experience the occupiers have gained has been shared with others who find themselves faced with similar choices, wouldn’t it be a much easier choice if they were also being told that the support continued until each worker was no longer struggling financially?

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What we're fighting for

Vestas Blades UK made production workers at their factories on the Isle of Wight redundant on 12 August 2009. More than 500 jobs were lost. Many more jobs that depend on Vestas will follow. This makes no sense from a green or a labour perspective!

At the same time, the government announced a major expansion of renewable energy including wind power. We are calling on the government to intervene to save jobs at companies like Vestas - through nationalisation if that is what it takes - to show that it is serious about saving the planet.

Actions & meetings

Wednesday 17 February

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT 7pm, Save Our Services public meeting, called by Unison, but open to all who want to campaign against the proposed cuts to council and all jobs and services. Venue: Hunnyhill Room, The Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight.